Mavericks' Lively leaves Game 3 due to neck sprain after scary collision

Mavericks center Dereck Lively was ruled out of Dallas' 116-107 Game 3 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a neck sprain.

Lively left the arena to receive a scan to determine the severity of the sprain, but he is not in concussion protocol, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

The tests on Lively returned OK, but his availability for Game 4 remains unknown, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Minnesota big man Karl-Anthony Towns appeared to inadvertently hit Lively in the back of the neck with his leg in the second quarter after the Dallas rookie fell to the floor while going for a rebound.

Lively was down for several minutes before being helped off the floor by teammates. The 20-year-old immediately headed to the locker room to be evaluated.

Veteran forward Dwight Powell replaced Lively in the lineup. The Mavericks were winning 43-33 at the time of his exit.

Lively, who has yet to miss a field goal this series, had six points, three rebounds, and two assists in nine minutes off the bench before the injury.